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Kuo: Apple Watch Series 4 Pre-Orders Above Expectations, iPhone XS Seeing Lackluster Demand
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I agree. It’s going to fly out of there.
Coral blue and white will do very well
After 3 Plus size phones, I actually like that the total physical size of the X is smaller and I don’t think I want to go back to the larger phone with the Max. If anything I think the 6.1” R is a great size, but I WOULD NOT get the R since so much else about it is a downgrade from the X I have.
Two counterpoints:
- Apple didn't raise the price of the iPhone after introducing 3D Touch, which at the time (2015) brought a lot of useful functionality. Likewise for Touch ID 2 introduced in the same generation of iPhone, which was noticeably faster than Touch ID 1 in my experience, or the bump to 2 GB RAM. All of that was offered at the same price as the previous year's iPhone.
- The low display resolution / PPI didn't just start to matter following the Xr announcement. Last year's iPhone 8 was also disappointing at the price point.
The SE has never sold well. As you point out, at one point it equalled most of the 6S specs with little lag. Consumers had the choice between the smaller SE and the larger 6S. And they DIDN'T choose the smaller phone. So why do you believe that if Apple offered an SE-sized XS model it would sell well when the SE didn't compared to the 6S?
I think it's also fair to say that if the smaller size had been popular, Apple would have updated the SE and perhaps even dropped the SE branding in favor of it being a regular iPhone model on the regular update cycle. But that didn't happen because it never sold that well.
I think you more or less answered your own question. At one time Apple DID offer a smaller size option (the SE) that more or less offered the same tech as the flagship model. Consumers overwhelmingly chose the flagship.
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Your first paragraph doesn’t make any sense to me, but in any case I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree. In the Android world, small phones are dead. In the Apple world, small phones are dead. I really don’t know what else to tell you.
But why worry about me? Apple’s the one you need to convince.
So you're justifying the high prices based on previous years price increases, ignoring economies of scale that in the past made electronics cheaper year by year. This is especially true for memory/storage prices, whether that's old hard drives, SSDs or RAM. The premiums Apple is charging over market prices is truly exorbitant. We all know they could easily include an SD card slot like most of the Android competition and that card would cost half of what Apple charges.
It's this cult-like defence of anything Apple does, right or wrong, that's starting to creep me out and embarrassed to show the Apple logo on any device I own (I've covered all them with decals).
No, it was significant: sandwich glass design, Retina display, Facetime, I think those were the stand out on the 4. But if you look at the iPhone X a sandwich glass design too. What more could Apple do a few years from now, except make it exceptional thinner. Apple seems to be moving away from that. I actually think the reason why I use my 6s more than my X is the weight difference. My hand feels like it’s gonna drop off when I use for a while.
This is a premium iPhone, unlike the 5c, which was the iPhone from the year prior in a new, plastic body. That was a decidedly “lesser” phone, for lack of a better word.
The Xr is a big phone, same processor, great camera and Retina display. It’s the mainstream iPhone and I think it will be the default purchase for people WHO DONT READ MACRUMORS. Most people, NORMAL people, don’t know or care about OLED and PPI.
It’s not all about a lower price—it about the value proposition. The Xr is the People’s Phone. And they are going to sell a metric shxt ton of them.
Let me guess, three cameras, more pixels, the redesigned iOS 13 release, more emphasis on AR. I just see this period as similar to 2014 to 2016 at best. Anyway, if they are planning something better for next year, i’m more than willing to wait.
How long have you been an Apple customer? I ask this seriously because your comment about an SD card slot really shows how little you understand Apple. To Apple an SD card slot is a philosophical choice, not a cost-related one. Apple has always been about pushing the industry forward by not accepting the status quo. Before someone screams the tired old "Tim Cook's Greed!" refrain, I fully acknowledge that their design choices sometimes create new business opportunities for them. But that's not greed. That's progress. Apple wants high speed wireless networking everywhere and cloud storage, not brittle, fiddly SD cards. Just like they wanted us off the floppy disc and using more reliable CD media. And when the Internet became fast and widely available enough, they killed the CD too.
Anyway, the cult-like defense of Apple is nothing new. I've been a customer for 35 years. You either see and appreciate their vision, or you don't. Tim Cook's Apple is not Jobs's Apple, but it's still very much Apple. They would never put an SD card slot in an iPhone. Never. If you don't understand that, you don't really understand Apple.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a research note today, obtained by MacRumors, outlining his opinions about first-weekend pre-orders for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4.
Kuo says Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders have been "better than expected," as a result of new innovative functions, such as electrocardiogram support. He predicts Apple Watch shipments will reach 18 million units in 2018, with the Series 4 lineup accounting for 50 to 55 percent of those orders.
If the ECG support expands to more countries, Kuo believes the Series 4 lineup could see even stronger shipment momentum.
In contrast, Kuo says iPhone XS pre-orders are "lower-than-expected," as customers opt for the iPhone XS Max or wait for the iPhone XR. Kuo has lowered his forecast for iPhone XS orders, believing the model will account for only 10 to 15 percent of shipments of the new 2018 iPhones, down from 15 to 20 percent.
Kuo says iPhone XS Max pre-orders have been in line with expectations, signifying the success of Apple's high-pricing strategy:Kuo sees a positive outlook for the iPhone XR, available to pre-order October 19, given its lower pricing and dual-SIM support in China.
The well-known analyst increased his forecast for iPhone XR orders, estimating that the model will account for 55 to 60 percent of shipments of the new 2018 iPhones, up from 50 to 55 percent previously.
"We estimate the shipment peak of XS Max and XS will be in October and XR will start shipping and benefiting supply chain momentum in October," said Kuo.
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 pre-orders began Friday.
Article Link: Kuo: Apple Watch Series 4 Pre-Orders Above Expectations, iPhone XS Seeing Lackluster Demand
Seems like there was a pent up demand for the larger screen, I know I am very excited to get the Max. The poor Xs sales don't surprise me. Either many are not upgrading their X, or they are going for the Xr, or a combination of both those things with a sprinkling of users who are just staying with the 8 series due to the astronomical pricing. The Xr is going to be sold out pretty quickly like the old days.
They don’t look the same, in fact the XR bezels look thicker on the sides than the 6S/7/8. It’s been a topic of conversation.
If you add all the 4" size iPhones; it is close to 10% usage in 2018!
The bezels ARE thicker on the XR. It’s very apparent.
You’re right—Xr is s great price and value. I can’t wait to see the pre-orders. Or will hear what they say on the earnings call.
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I bought the Max because I wanted the biggest phone possible. If the choice was Xs or Xr I would buy a red R without hesitation
With those iPhone XS prices what did they expect.
But with a $570 credit the iPhone XS seems more a better buy than the XR.
There was a 6 month lag between the 6S flagship release and when the SE debut in April 2016. Google old reports from 2016 and you'll see how the SE was responsible for slowing an otherwise steep sales decline in iPhones then after the 2015 peak year. In some markets like the UK, it was the best selling smartphone overall.
Besides the physical size dimension, there are other aspects to dislike about the new designs, but I won't regurgitate them here again. If they don't bother you then I'm not here to tell you not to buy the eXceSs iPhone. It's just not for me.
The fact you think one person agreeing with you is actually meaningful speaks volumes.
It’s been said, the plural of anecdote is not data. You could find 10 million people who agree with you, and compared to Apple’s 225-250million iPhones they sell, it wouldn’t be significant. That would still only be 4-4.5%.
btw we haven’t touched on how much app developers dislike still having to code for 4” devices as we’ve been focused on what the user wants.
I think the $1099 Xs Max will sell well. Anyone who has the disposable income for a $999 iPhone X last year could also probably afford to shell out an extra $100 for the Max. At this point, an extra $100 isn't really all that much. Especially for people who have the money.
Apple doesn’t price just on cost of components, they price based on value provided. And they definitely don’t price based on ppi. As disappointing as this might be to you, it’s a fact.
Sorry, I was looking at quarters. $1B is still a hell of a lot of profit to leave on the table just because, hey, we make a lot anyway. As if more is bad somehow? But what makes you think $100 in profit is wrong? Estimates were around 30-35% at releases. Its a $400 or $500 phone. $100 was a low end estimate.